Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1887-09-16
A FRENCH FIRE.EATER.

seek, nowadays, Tor single representa-
tive of a race to which Choquart be-
longed. He must have had ancestors
among the exquisites of the reign of
Louis MI, the swash-bucklerS of the
Hotel de Royaumont, or the splendid
corps OF musketeers of Louis XIV. Cho-
quarts mania for dueling, his ever-recur-
ring provocations to decide a difference
at the swords point made of him public
character; and his reputation was per-
haps heightened rather than diminished
by the fact that his most terrible chal-
lenges were unable to Withstand the offer
of peaceful solution over a bowl of
punch. His guileless talk and southern
accent, his peculiar way of lisping and
other physical oddities, gave to his daily
Odyssey smack of the most genuine
sonic buffoonery.
When the mania for fighting was
ltrong within him it was difficult to evade
his mood. One day he would enter a
coffee house, take his seat, and say to
uear neighbor:
"After you, the Figaro, please"
"Sir," the other would politely re-
pond, sit is not the Figaro but the Con-
ttitutionneI that am reading"
"Oh! you would give me that lie,
would you9 Take care, sir, or I'll teach
you better manners"
On another occasion he would intro
duce like scene after this fashion:
''Now, don't keep staring at me in that
offensive way, pleasep
'I2" expostulated the customer. "Bless
me, sir, didn't even see you. was
looking the other way"
"Oh! then l am liar am II" And
Choquart would rise from his seat in
threatening attitude.
Even the most peaceful persons could
scarcely put up with such insolence.
They felt like tucking up their sleeves
and knocking Choquart down. Nor did
he fail, at times, to meet with his de-
serts. He more than once stumbled on
Tartar. His best known scrape that
way is worth relating. Choquart one
day entered a courtyard to challenge a
master-builder, who was pumping water
vita fountain. The master builder looked
up surprised, caught hold of Choquart by
the scrutf of his neck, doubled him up.
put him under the pump, and soused him
ike dead rat.
The story of Choquart's adventures
would fill volume, but will relate only
one, wherein acted as his second.
One night, at a masked ball, Choquart
quarreled witha Turk. Cards were ex-
changed. The following day, Choquart,
with his two seconds, went to his adver-
sary's house. The Turk of the previous
evening turned out to be a well-to do
upholsterer, who carried on business in the
Saint Martin quarter. On entering tie
premises, Choquart inquired after NJ
Ballu.
"What can I do for you 2" asked a
young and pretty woman, who came for
ward from the back of the shop.
Stuff and nonsense I don't like
Joking in matters of serious importance.
My name is Choquart. come for an
affair Of honor. A gentleman shouldn't
be made to wait in this manner. Your
husband is an ill-bred dog"
"Oh, excuse me, now l know what
brings you. This is what have to say
My husband went out yesterday to spend
the carnival, and it has made him ill.
He is in bed, and splits blood"
"Dear me, ;" remarked Choquart, turn
ing towards his seconds, "what a mis-
chance He spits blood, did you say ? u
"Alas yes, sir" answered the young
woman, who seemed much affected, land
the doctor says that he has not six
months to live"
"Dear me !" went on repeating Che,
quart, "spits blood. How shall we settle
matters then 2 Hasn't six months to live.
Well, madame, I'm not bad fellow,
whatever others may think. Now, lister
towhat | have to say. We are in January
aren't we Just so. Well, I'll give you
husband six months to be buried in.
shall call around and pay my respects ST,
months hence. If, in July next, you
husband isn't dead and buried, I'll trea
him as knave and a deceiver, and placarc
bis name in all the barracks of Paris"
This threat, which constantly fell from
Choquart's lips, was Renaissance o.
his soldier life. The thought never sug
gested itself that an upholsterer nigh
not care the jingle of brass farthin,
whether his name were placarded or no
In all the barracks of the country.
One fine afternoon in July of that sam
year, Choquart took hold of my arm a
the Varieties coffee house, and said:
"Come along with me, old boy; hav
small matter which l really must clea
up without further loss of time"
We took road which led toward tn
int-Martin quarter, and, as we Wake,
along, Choquart entered circumstantiall
into the particulars of the case. The UP
holsterer's day of reckoning had arrived
and Choquart was bent on finding on
whether his former Turk had paid tn
funeral draft Endorsed six months previ
ously by his wife.
"If," soliloquized Choquart, 9Th
rogue is still alive, I'll cut off both hi
ears, you know. I'm justified in so doing
am not2"
''Of course you are, my dear fellow
But, let me ask, the thing occurred lon
ago, didn't it, and in the carnival SEE
SOM And again, what did the fellow d
to warrant such feud~
"What did he do, the villian2 Jus
listen and I'll tell you. / was at maske
ball given at the Renaissance Theatre
1 walked into the green-room in my drei
suit. am spare of limb, as you can Sc,
Suddenly q Turk stopped directly
front of me and bawled out: 'Hallot
there goes the Fat Oxl Make wa,
please, for the Fat Oxp Everybod
roared at this sally. I was downrigl
vexed, as you may suppose. So l mac
up to him and said: MY merry friend, 1
noon tomorrow you shall be a dea
mani"
"He was in the wrong, certainly"
pleaded, ''to insinuate so invidious
comparison between a thin man like yc
and a fat OK; but"
We had reached our destination. FL